Rams Fall in Double Overtime

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Dire times test a team's mettle.

Which is where Colorado State found itself at the start of the fourth quarter, down 21-10 after allowing Oregon State to go on a 14-play drive which drained 8:51 off the clock, bridging the third quarter and entering the fourth on Gevani's McCoy's second touchdown of the game.

As it turns out, McCoy would need a third rushing score – in the first overtime – and Anthony Hankerson in the second as Oregon State would answer Colorado State's call in a 39-31 overtime victory.

"I really challenged our kids to play hard, play physical for one another," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "I thought our focus and our execution was pretty good in a tough environment. It was hard to hear out there, a lot of different things going on with the clock and all that. I thought our kids focused and did a pretty good job of playing in a tough environment.

"It's not an easy place to play, but we've got to finish. We had a chance at the end to shut them down. They came back and scored and scored again in overtime. That was the difference in the game."

To rally, the Rams were going to need to convert some third downs; they were 0-for-5 at that point. They were going to need some big plays, and few had been found.

But what they produced flipped the script and resulted in the type of win which can launch a season forward. Going on the road to beat a favored foe, the kind of wins the program has been lacking in recent years.

The Rams came so close. Two drives and two touchdowns later, Colorado State gained a 24-21 lead.

Hold the celebration. The Beavers used the time to hit a 44-yard game-tying field goal to force overtime.

"The offense was doing what they needed to do. We stepped in there, couldn't execute and couldn't get it done," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "I'm pretty disappointed right now. All the guys are really down. I thought we really fought. I thought everyone really fought tonight."

On the first of the fourth quarter, the Rams converted on four consecutive fourth downs, the final one a third-and-goal play from the 10 with Tory Horton on the end of his first receiving touchdown of the season.

The next drive, the senior had his first 100-yard game of the year – and 18^th of his CSU career – when on the first play Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi hit him for a 53-yard gain down the opposing sideline. When the Rams finally were stopped again on third down – third-and-1 from the goal – Avery Morrow delivered on fourth down out of the wildcat. A Horton reverse gave them a 2-point conversion.

The team exchanged touchdowns in the first overtime, with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi hitting Caleb Goodie on a crossing route, Goodie doing most of the work for the 17-yard score. OSU had the ball first the second time, Hankerson scoring on the first play.

Colorado State had a prime chance to score, set up first-and-goal from the 2 after a pass interference call. But the team went backward, the final throw to Tory Horton in the corner falling incomplete.

There was much that was good. Morrow rushed for 140 yards in the game, and Tory Horton's return came with nine catches for 158 yards and a touchdown. Backs to the wall, the offense had urgency.

"I think we did a pretty good job of playing at a better pace than we have in recent games," Fowler-Nicolosi said after a 20-of-30 performance for 263 yards and no turnovers. "We did a good job of getting on top of them on drives and keeping our drives consistent. I think we had a problem with falling behind the chains early, then we cleaned up some of those mistakes and penalties."

But as Norvell suggested, the Rams created some obstacles to overcome beyond what the crowed provided. The 13 penalties for 82 yards didn't help. It's hard for a team to finish when it's creating roadblocks of its own.

Colorado State addressed one of its wants early in the game when the defense delivered two first-quarter turnovers. The first came on Gabe Kirschke's first career interception, snaring a deflection when Wilson hit the targeted reception. A play later, Justin Marshall bounced a run around the left end and went in for the 12-yard score. It was the first time this season the Rams turned a turnover into points.

It was red zone issues at the end of the first half which led to Oregon State holding a 14-10 margin. Colorado State drew two flags during its final full possession inside the 20, the first an illegal formation which erased what would have been Marshall's second rushing touchdown of the game. Instead, the team settled for a 25-yard Jordon Noyes field goal in the end.

Oregon State responded, driving inside the 10. The Rams appeared to have forced a field-goal attempt in the final minute, but the first of two successive defensive holding calls put the Beavers on the doorstep, and Hankerson plowed in with 3 seconds remaining until the break to take the lead.

At 2-3 after non-conference play, Colorado State heads into the Mountain West portion of the schedule with a home date with San Jose State on Oct. 12.

Disappointed, but forge ahead.

"There's really a sense of togetherness we haven't had. There's a strong love," We can really reflect on this game, and I can already tell we played for each other a lot more. There's a lot more of that intensity on the sideline, love for the game, than there has been.

"Coach said all week when adversity hits, play through it; know how to play through it and I feel we did a phenomenal job of that today and that's something we can build off in weeks to come."

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Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Players Mentioned

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Caleb Goodie

Tory Horton

Gabe Kirschke

Justin Marshall

Avery Morrow

Chase Wilson

Players Mentioned

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Caleb Goodie

Tory Horton

Gabe Kirschke

Justin Marshall

Avery Morrow

Chase Wilson

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